6 Best Litters for Cats and Owners With Asthma in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
Owning a cat can be difficult if you suffer from allergies or asthma. If you have chosen a hypoallergenic cat breed, it is time to consider some asthma-friendly cat litter. In some cases, your cat may acquire allergies or suffer from asthma which can make litter box training a daunting task.
We have reviewed some of the best hypoallergenic and dust-free cat litters to help you find the best cat litter for you and your cat. There are plenty of options to choose from, whether you prefer clumping or crystal cat litter, we have some really good options for you!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2022
Rating
Image
Product
Details
Best Overall
Cats Pride Unscented Hypoallergenic Multi-Cat Litter
The best overall product is the Cats Pride hypoallergenic cat litter that has no scent. It is ideal for cats and owners that suffer from allergies and asthma towards dusty and scented cat litters. This litter works instantly to trap and eliminate odors for up to 10 days. It creates a tight, hard clump once moisture has touched the litter to make any waste easy to scoop up and dispose of. It is 99% dust-free and 50% lighter than other litters on the market. It still has a small amount of dust, but it is much less than other forms of clumping cat litters. This litter has fine granules, and it is not chunky which makes it easier to handle and maintain in your cat’s litter box. It can also help cats that scratch and have skin dermatitis after using the litter box. A great aspect of this cat litter is that when you pour the litter into the box there is no dust cloud which can trigger allergies and asthma.
Pros
99% Dust-free
Hypoallergenic
Unscented
Cons
Messy
2. Fresh Step Advanced Clumping Cat Litter – Best Value
This product is the best value for money. You get a large amount of clumping cat litter for an affordable price. The Fresh Step advanced clumping cat litter has the brand’s original scent which is not too overpowering for cats with sensitive noses. This clumping cat litter contains less dust than competitive products in the same category. Activated charcoal helps to keep this litter fresh and smell-free for up to 10 days. This helps to keep the environment clean without worrying about strong ammonia smells. This cat litter is 99% dust-free and it is a low-tracking cat litter which means that it will not stick to your cat’s fur or paws easily.
This clumping cat litter is 99.9% dust-free, hypoallergenic, and only contains natural ingredients. This makes the litter safe and convenient for families and cats who suffer from allergies and dust associated with dusty and scented cat litters. The Premium Clumping Cat Litter does not have dust particles that settle on surfaces, which reduces any respiratory issues, unlike many other competitive products in this category. It is a hard, clumping medium-grain cat litter that helps to prevent moisture build-up. This litter is ideal for sifting and mechanical litter boxes so that it is easy to scoop and dispose of your cat’s waste. Once your cat has urinated into the litter, it forms a solid clump in the area so that you can easily detect where your cat has been using the litter box.
The PetSafe crystal cat litter works with nearly every traditional litter box. It includes 2 pre-portioned bags of the cat litter with an original scent. It has unbeatable odor control and the main ingredient which is silica gel beads are great at dehydrating waste and absorbing excess moisture. It absorbs solid waste and urine effectively and provides up to five times better odor control than clumping cat litter. This allows the litter to last longer and retain freshness.
This cat litter is ideal for cats with sensitive respiratory systems as it is 99% dust-free with low tracking. Crystal cat litter has minimal dust and does not stick to your cat’s fur or paws. The hypoallergenic abilities make it easy for you to clean and maintain the litter box without worrying about triggering any allergies. The bags portions are quite small for the price, but since crystal cat litter lasts longer than other cat litters, it can still last you a while.
Naturally, Fresh cat litter is highly absorbent which means you do not have to use much to see the same results in comparison to other cat litters. Unlike cat litters that leave silica dust around the environment, this cat litter is dust-free so your cat can breathe properly without inhaling any chemicals or harmful dust. It also does not stick to your cats’ paws or settle on their fur which helps to greatly reduce allergies both for your cat and you.
This litter is 100% natural and environmentally friendly which makes it more sustainable and gentler for your cat. Some noticeable benefits to using a walnut-based cat litter are that your cat will not be exposed to toxins, silica dust, and GMOs, This cat litter is soft on your cat’s paws, easy to scoop, and low tracking.
This is a more expensive cat litter, however, the benefits and quality and worth the price. It has powerful moisture control with baking soda as an additive for odor control. This litter has advanced dual odor control as soon as the clay comes into contact with moisture from urine and feces. This cat litter is 100% dust-free with low tracking. It is easy to pour and scoop which makes litter box maintenance easier. With this litter, you do not have to worry about you, or your cat inhaling clouds of dust, fragrance, or chemicals when handling this litter. This litter minimized any contact with dander and dust particles that could otherwise trigger allergies or asthma.
Another benefit to using this cat litter is that it uses dander shield technology to reduce airborne particles during scooping and disposal. Although the manufacturer claims this cat litter is completely dust-free, there are still low amounts of dust that are produced during the manufacturing process.
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Litter for Cats and Owners With Asthma
What types of asthma-friendly cat litters are there?
There are many options to choose from. Hypoallergenic and dust-controlled cat litters are generally some of the best litters for sensitive cats or owners that suffer from asthma and allergies.
Clumping cat litter
This type of cat litter contains sodium bentonite clay as the active ingredient. When the clay comes into contact with moisture, the litter forms a solid clump around the urine or feces to retain moisture. It is not as good with odor control as crystal cat litter. Clumping cat litter does not contain silica dust which can irritate the respiratory tract if it is inhaled frequently.
Crystal cat litter
Silica gel beads are the main active ingredient in this type of cat litter. These beads dry out waste and absorb the moisture of urine. Crystal cat litter lasts longer than other forms of litter which means you do not have to replace it as often. This makes it budget-friendly as easier to maintain if you do not have much time each day to clean the litter box. When it comes to dealing with asthma or allergies, the silica dust produced from this litter may pose a problem. However, there are plenty of hypoallergenic options available which lowers the amount of silica dust found within the product.
Walnut-based cat litter
Walnut cat litters are natural, organic, toxin-free, and hypoallergenic. This type of cat litter is recommended if you want to avoid exposing yourself or your cat to nasty chemicals and other unnatural ingredients that can be harmful. As a hypoallergenic cat litter, natural walnut litter tick all the right boxes and make a good litter for sensitive cats.
Image Credit: Yuliya Alekseeva, Shutterstock
What makes a good cat litter for owners with asthma?
Cat litters that are unscented, dust-free, hypoallergenic, and natural make a great cat litter for cats and owners who suffer from asthma and allergies. The type of litter you choose will depend on the volume of litter you need, the asthmatic benefits it has to offer, and the overall quality and texture.
Each type of cat litter will have different pros and cons which may affect your choice, so look for a product that meets you and your cat’s needs.
Factors to consider before purchasing an asthma-friendly cat litter
The dust-free percentage is important to consider. You want to choose a 99% to 100% dust-free cat litter.
The ingredients should be on the natural side to reduce any negative respiratory effects triggered by toxins and harmful ingredients.
Avoid silica gel bead-based cat litters if you or your cat are sensitive to silica dust.
Choose a cat litter that does not produce dust clouds. These dust clouds leave particles around the environment that can cause respiratory issues even when you are not near your cat’s litter box.
The litter should be low tracking to ensure that the litter will not stick to your cats’ paws and fur. This can cause your cat to breathe in the litter throughout the day which will further trigger asthmatic problems. You may even want to consider using a low-tracking litter box so that any excess litter on your cat falls back into the litter box when your cat jumps out of it.
Why choose unscented cat litter?
Fragrances can be triggering for cats and owners that suffer from asthma. The chemicals used to produce the smell are typically overpowering and harmful to you and your cat. The main fragrances used in scented cat litters are lavender, flower, fruit, ocean, and other synthetic plant scents.
An unscented or original cat litter scent is better in comparison to scented cat litters, especially if you want to avoid asthmatic triggers.
Precautions to take when using cat litter with allergies or asthma
When handling your cat’s litter, it is recommended to wear disposable gloves and a mask to reduce any dust particles from triggering an asthmatic or allergic response. The environment should have adequate cross-ventilation so that no wandering dust clouds can settle into the surrounding area. Hypoallergenic cat litters may reduce some of the symptoms associated with respiratory problems in both cats and humans, it does not guarantee that the litter will not affect your breathing as all cat litters contain dust and other chemicals.
Nicole is a lover of animals of all sizes but is especially fascinated with the feline variety. She’s the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese, and works every day so he can relax in the sunshine or by the fire. She’s always had a cat in her home and has spent countless days with others, observing behaviors and softening up even the grouchiest of the lot. Nicole wants to share her kitty expertise with you so you and your cat can live happy, healthy, and care-free.
